Originally Posted by
Gunny
I make perfect sense. You are trying to define "God" and set YOUR parameters on Him. You judging the pastor is acting in an un-Christian manner. See how that works? When I become perfect, I'll be sure and lecture you on what being "Christian-like" is.
We are ALL sinners and not perfect and subject to "un-Christian" behavior, especially in our society as it is.
Until then it's not worth arguing about because it has no end and just creates bad blood.
Except that's not the case.
The pastor's church defines God as "love".
The pastor's actions are contrary to Love.
Love and Grace dictate - when Love and Grace are KNOWN to a person - that knowledge COMMANDS the person's actions be affected by the knowledge. The actions are the symptoms of what one really feels deep down in side. The pastor approaching the woman after the service, in private or in a quiet way, are the only symptoms showing the pastor understands what Love is, WHO love is. Calling somebody out in the middle of a service for what amounts to NOTHING means the pastor got his spiritual boners from showing the rest of the congregation how HOLY his is by publicly correcting somebody he's likely never even spoken to.
I'm judging the pastor's actions - his show things that are not compatible with "Love your neighbor as yourself". You are making excuses for the pastor's lack of love, citing ritual, rules, conduct, justice and the like.
Loving somebody is THE ONLY THING for christians. In fact, Christ was pretty clear about that when he was asked. Christ said clearly to love God and love others in the same way you love yourself.
Embarrassing a new attendee is NOT love. Leads me to believe the pastor does not know what love is. If he doesn't know what Love is, he cannot know God - because...say it with me....God IS love. If you want to discredit the truth I'm telling you by calling me a "judger!!!OMG!! OHNO!!!" then so be it. The part about 'we are all sinners' - who gives a shit. Nobody can use "Well, I'm just a sinner like you" as an excuse to be an asshole to a stranger. Because if we are assholes to strangers - the VERB part of that - the asshole-i-ness (I just coined a new word. AssHoliness) shows the entire audience the pastor has no idea who God is. Or if he has an idea who God is, the Love like God isn't part of his life - because nobody who loves can do such a thing as he did.
Things God is not:
...worried about decorum.
...worried about tradition.
...worried about rules.
...worried about 'sin' failures.
...worried about how each person interprets who God is.
...worried about who waves their hands in church during sincere worship.
Things God IS:
...Love.
“… the greatest detractor from high performance is fear: fear that you are not prepared, fear that you are in over your head, fear that you are not worthy, and ultimately, fear of failure. If you can eliminate that fear—not through arrogance or just wishing difficulties away, but through hard work and preparation—you will put yourself in an incredibly powerful position to take on the challenges you face" - Pete Carroll.